Bill Brooks: Year of the Fire Monkey could be challenging

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Chen Shuaifu, a noted feng shui master and longtime chairman of the China Fengshui Association, predicts the Year of the Fire Monkey- 2016 – could be unsettling indeed.  “We will see a big slide in the world economy,” he warns. “The global economic situation will be terrible and lots of companies will be bankrupted.” All is not doom and gloom however as Shuaifu predicts “It’s a good year for people to give birth and to look for love,” he says. “Babies born in the Year of the Monkey are regarded as very hardworking and lucky.” Chen expects good times ahead for anyone born in the Year of the Snake, Dragon, Sheep and Ox. Not so good for those born in the year of the Tiger, Rabbit, Dog and Pig. And who knew Donald Trump was born in the Year of the Dog while Hilary Clinton was born in the Year of the Pig?

Dire predictions were put aside as celebration took centre stage Feb 19 with more than 600 guests gathering at the Regency Palace Restaurant to usher in the Year of the Fire Monkey. Hosted by the Hong Kong Canada Business Association (HKCBA) Calgary Section, the SRO event featured a traditional ten-course meal and Lion Dance, musical performances by Canadian recording artist Jason Hastie and The Alibi and the awarding of scholarships to students from Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary.

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Who was not in attendance would make a much shorter listing as seemingly everyone was in attendance including: HKCBA national chair Alexandria Sham; immediate past president Tim Onyett; Bonita Wong Paquette, president, HKCBA Calgary; Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) director Kathy Chan and colleague Catherine Yuen, principal consultant, Western Canada; Chinatown District BRZ chair Danny Ng; Perma Insurance Agency owner Raymond Kan; Great Britain Consul General Tony Kay and his wife Michelle Htun-Kay; Wang Xinping, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Calgary and his wife Lina Wang; Scotia Wealth Management’s Audrey Kwan and West Canadian CEO George Brookman; representing presenting sponsor, TD Canada Trust  branch manager Vency Chui with colleague Vicky Ji;  United States Consul General Thomas Palaia and his wife Sarah Palaia; China advisor Gary Mar and his wife Nancy Mar; Deloitte Managing Partner, Prairie Region, Chris Lee and his wife Tracy Lee; MRU president David Docherty and his wife Kris; Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Immigrant Services Calgary board chair Josephine Pon; and my fave politician, MLA Richard Gotfried and his wife Cathy.

To all our friends in the Chinese community, Gong Hey Fat Choy.